Morning Briefing: June 20, 2024

ISTANBUL

Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including Russia demanding the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe, the UN saying that Israel's use of heavy bombs in Gaza is raising concerns of possible war crimes, and Russia and North Korea pledging to help each other if either country faces “aggression.”

TOP STORIES

• Russia demands withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe

Russia demanded that the US remove all its nuclear weapons from Europe and dismantle the infrastructure for their deployment.

US nuclear arms create "the most serious security problem on the continent," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a news conference in Moscow.

"Our demands in this regard remain unchanged. They include the withdrawal of all American nuclear weapons from Europe as well as dismantling the infrastructure there for their deployment," Zakharova stressed.

• Israel's use of heavy bombs in Gaza raises concerns of possible war crimes: UN human rights chief

Israel appears to have consistently failed to use methods of warfare that avoid or minimize civilian harm in its bombing campaign in Gaza, said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.

"The requirement to select means and methods of warfare that avoid or at the very least minimize to every extent civilian harm appears to have been consistently violated in Israel’s bombing campaign," Turk said in a statement.

His remarks came after the UN's Human Rights Office published an assessment on "six emblematic attacks" by Israeli forces in Gaza last year that led to high numbers of civilian fatalities and widespread destruction of civilian objects.

• Russia, North Korea pledge to help each other in case of aggression

Russia and North Korea, under a new agreement, committed to help each other in the event of aggression against either country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Speaking at a news conference in Pyongyang following a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Putin said security and international issues were significant topics of the talks.

"The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement," Putin said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has resigned from the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, an official said.
• At least eight Philippine sailors were injured when the China Coast Guard searched a Philippine vessel in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
• Three more Hezbollah fighters were killed in clashes with Israeli forces near the border between the two sides, the Lebanese group said.
• At least nine people were killed and 46 others injured following an explosion at an ammunition warehouse in Chad's capital N'Djamena.
• Egypt dismissed reports of its participation in a potential UN-organized Arab force to control Gaza border crossings.
• The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned about the effects of a lack of medical care in the occupied West Bank and said Israel's attacks are "obstructing access to health care."
• The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said that “67% of water, sanitation facilities and infrastructure have been destroyed or damaged” in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.
• Canada designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror group, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced.
• Those seeking to inflame tensions against South Africa's unity government will not succeed in the "new era" following recent national elections, the country's newly reelected President Cyril Ramaphosa said.
• Australia announced a series of initiatives to bolster Papua New Guinea's (PNG) internal security and priorities in law and justice under a significant bilateral security agreement.
• Hamas denounced the Israeli military's destruction of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing as "criminal behavior” that “will not change the crossing’s reality.”
• The Israeli army intensified its bombardment of several areas in southern Lebanon, resulting in a number of injuries, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.
• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday committed to continuing his parliamentary career for another five years, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming general election.

SPORTS

• Hosts Germany defeat Hungary to qualify for EURO 2024 Round of 16

Hosts Germany became the first team to advance to the EURO 2024 Round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Hungary.

Playing at Stuttgart Arena, Jamal Musiala made a close-range finish, placing Germany ahead as Ilkay Gundogan assisted him in the 22nd minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Economic bloc BRICS eyes establishment of its own payment system

Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that the countries of the economic bloc BRICS may present an alternative payment system at the upcoming summit of the leaders scheduled for Oct. 22-24 in the Russian city of Kazan.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Sergey Ryabkov said that another project is being worked out -- a platform for selling grain.

Commenting on Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's remarks about Türkiye's interest in joining BRICS, Ryabkov said it was "noticed and fixed."